Mainly still getting the feel of when the pot is full of roots and needs a repot.
Ideas for Stewartia Monodelpha
- Thread starter dbonsaiw
- Start date
D
Deleted member 32750
Guest
Where is the nebari
Under the soil. I cut roots back when I repotted and buried the nebari to encourage more root growth closer to the trunk. One large root may even be dead - I'll have to see if anything grew from it on the next repot.
I spent some time with the tree to plan out next steps. I'll finish off this season just caring for the tree and doing some wiring, and plan on major pruning work in early spring 2023 (unless folks tell me I can do it now safely). I doctored an older pic of the tree to draw in branches that are currently growing and that I plan to keep. These will be wired now and cut back for ramification. Everything else will be removed.
My thinking is that the primary branching coming off the trunk is too fat and also not on good angles. I'd much prefer to use a new shoot that is growing vertically as the leader - this will be wired for movement.
Caught a video of guys at Mirai wiring a Stewartia and they wrapped the wire in what looks like raffia. Is there something about the Stewartia that requires this?
My thinking is that the primary branching coming off the trunk is too fat and also not on good angles. I'd much prefer to use a new shoot that is growing vertically as the leader - this will be wired for movement.
Caught a video of guys at Mirai wiring a Stewartia and they wrapped the wire in what looks like raffia. Is there something about the Stewartia that requires this?
Attachments
D
Deleted member 32750
Guest
One of the value judgements of stewartia, and all smooth bark deciduous and broadleaf evergreen trees, is scarless trunks and branches. Wrapping the wire makes it softer on the bark to prevent wire marks.
Thank you. Now I finally have an excuse to buy some raffia. Experimentation to follow.
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
Assuming you’re pruning branches and not the trunk again, you could probably get away with pruning it now if it’s healthy. However, you’ve done a lot already this year and the safe move is to wait until spring when the tree is just starting to break bud. Mine had a lot of small twig dieback, so you’ll want to be sure you’re pruning to live branches. The more you leave on now, the more options you’ll have in spring.
Raffia protects the branches against wire scarring…to an extent. I didn’t use any on mine, but paid close attention to be sure wires didn’t cut in.
Much thanks. Def no trunk pruning. The tree has a habit of growing multiple branches from the same point, so I will cut those. Otherwise, will keep pruning at a minimum.
Leo in N E Illinois
The Professor
- Messages
- 11,437
- Reaction score
- 23,640
- USDA Zone
- 5b
Good sketch, hopefully t tree will cooperate.
MACH5
Imperial Masterpiece
Yes, he sure is! Luis Vallejo's museum is simply spectacular. Worth noting that a key figure behind the scenes working on the trees has been the great Mario Komsta (bonsaimotorworld).
I will be there again in late January after going to the UBE show in Aranjuez. I am really hoping to meet Luis in person.
The winter is long and there's not much to do bonsai wise, so please excuse my rambling. I've basically nixed my last proposed design. There was something about it that just seemed off (even assuming the tree grows the way I wanted) and I think it's because the design was too masculine for the tree. I was looking at BVF's Stewartia as well as others, including the ones attached, and believe the tree looks better more feminine. Which for me and this tree means it should be taller and less stocky than envisioned. I believe BVF's is 30" tall and it isn't a stocky, trident like tree.
I think my trunk line could easily follow the one in the first pic. The angles are softer and the proportion of base to height is high. The second pic is more along the ones I drew and I seem to like the former better.
I think my trunk line could easily follow the one in the first pic. The angles are softer and the proportion of base to height is high. The second pic is more along the ones I drew and I seem to like the former better.
Attachments
I opted not to repot the tree this year. In fact, its roots have run into the ground and I simply left the tree where it's been all winter (I guess I'm now ground growing). The leader was growing on a bad angle so I simply pruned it back and will pick a new leader. Getting some nice backbudding and the tree is starting to really grow (yay spring and ferts). Cleaned up the soil a bit to expose a little of the nebari, but will need to wait for the next repot to do this in earnest.
Should I be opening up the large scar from last year's chop to get it to continue rolling or will it do this by itself?
I truly have a love/hate relationship with this tree, mainly due to my messy original work.
Should I be opening up the large scar from last year's chop to get it to continue rolling or will it do this by itself?
I truly have a love/hate relationship with this tree, mainly due to my messy original work.
